Compare towns
Newton vs Sandown vs Hampstead
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Newton has the most homeowners (90.1%).
Sandown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Hampstead has the most expensive homes ($521k median).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Newton | Sandown | Hampstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,836Lowest |
6,628 |
9,102Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 47.8±5.7Highest 10% above NH |
40.8±3.7Lowest 6% below NH |
45.3±6.1 5% above NH |
| Newton and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±4.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.6%±6.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
21.3%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Sandown and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16%±3 NH: 20.1% |
14.2%±4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Hampstead and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% NH: 40.6% |
34.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
44.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±2.5Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $138,487±$29kHighest 40% above NH |
$135,040±$25k 36% above NH |
$112,348±$18kLowest 13% above NH |
| Newton and Sandown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $459,500±$18kLowest 14% above NH |
$483,400±$44k 20% above NH |
$521,100±$45kHighest 29% above NH |
| Hampstead and Sandown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,683±$96 13% above NH |
$1,893±$721Highest 27% above NH |
$1,299±$149Lowest 13% below NH |
| Sandown and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,124Lowest 22% above NH |
$8,801Highest 32% above NH |
$8,634 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62%±41.8 NH: 48.2% |
64.1%±48.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Sandown and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.5% NH: 7.2% |
10.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.5% NH: 72.8% |
82.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Lowest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above NH |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
30 minLowest 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 18.1%±5.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.4%±13.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Sandown and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #70 of 120 in NH | #71 of 120 in NH | #49 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Sanborn Regional School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Hampstead School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.